Recruiting Risers Abound In Palmetto State

With so many aspects of college recruiting having changed in the last year, the past seven weeks have been a sign of hope. Before the ink on a whole bunch of February national letters of intent from Class of 2021 athletes were dry, offers started going out in droves for Class of 2022 kids. Some of them already had a few in their pocket and were expanding their potential scope. Others were getting some of their first. Either way, we’ve tracked a few movers and shakers from around the state. We don’t expect any of these players to see their haul completed just yet. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="59468" first="CJ" last="Stokes"], running back, Hammond School Prior to the 2021 February signing period, Stokes already had the likes of South Carolina and Minnesota pursuing him. So it’s no surprise that Yale, Tulane, Missouri, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee have joined the mix in recent weeks. Stokes is a multi-faceted running back who can catch the ball out of the backfield. He could also get college playing time early as a return man. It will increase his recruiting angles for months to come. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="59494" first="Ryan" last="Burger"], quarterback, Myrtle Beach An Ivy League offer from Dartmouth is only the latest in a batch for the Seahawks up-and-coming quarterback. He played through an ankle injury in three rounds of the playoffs and still produced, and then got some eyes on him via a few videos and camp appearances.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> It’s safe to say that more colleges are liking what they see from this pro-style quarterback. Since signing day, he’s added that aforementioned Dartmouth offer, as well as others from UNC Charlotte (that’s going to be a theme here), Tulane, UMass, Furman, Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="59500" first="Chase" last="Tillman"], defensive end, North Augusta The powerful defensive lineman picked up his first offer from Morgan State last summer, but the pandemic and then a season-ending leg injury stalled out his list for some time. Tillman has picked up more from Howard, UNC Charlotte and Georgia State in recent weeks. Now that he’s healed, more schools are starting to see that his three tackles for loss and 11.5 tackles in just three games wasn’t a short fluke during his junior season - especially since he’s starting to show off some of his strength again in offseason workouts. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="59476" first="Randy" last="Caldwell"], defensive back, Mauldin Howard, Louisiana Monroe, UNC Charlotte, Central Florida, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee State, Baylor and ECU. And that’s just in the last few weeks. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound dual safety is gaining serious traction as some others come off the board via verbal commitments. It’s easy to see why. Caldwell floats back and forth from a centerfield-type role to a ferocious tackler in the strong safety spot. He’s got above-average speed for his size, and since he’s already got a decent frame, a move to linebacker in college isn’t out of the question, either. He has that type of versatility. &nbsp; <strong>Tray Franklin</strong>, offensive line, Ridge View At 6-foot-6 and now getting closer to a college weight (he’s already gained 25 pounds since the end of last season), Franklin has picked up two more Division-I offers since signing day. After Georgia State offered toward the end of January, Appalachian State and UNC Charlotte followed suit, the latter after his former head coach Perry Parks joined the staff there (Parks has been instrumental in recruiting South Carolina since Day 1). Franklin is gaining steam, though, and it’s not just because of his past connections. He plays extremely well against both the pass and run. His new coach, Derek Howard, will only continue his path toward the college ranks. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="59460" first="Jaleel" last="Skinner"], tight end, Greer There’s a good chance that you saw the clip circulating of the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Skinner just abusing a flat-footed defensive back who tried to jam him on the line. The clip, shot by Tiger Illustrated, was an eye opener who hadn’t seen Skinner play yet. But it’s wasn’t the reason Alabama offered a couple days later. Skinner is the top un-committed player in our Class of 2022 rankings, No. 4 overall and will basically be able to go wherever he wants. The Central Florida and Ole Miss offers that joined the fold after signing day (or the dozens prior) were further proof of that.